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"Where have you taken them!?" Chen Xuan asked in a low voice, ready to activate his Decomposition and Re-Fusion.

Even though this move is useless against the Celestial Patrol, he can’t just leave by initiating the shopkeeper’s recall!

"Don’t get agitated, they’ve safely returned to their original world," Will raised his hands immediately. "I’ve kept you here to fulfill a promise."

"What promise?" Chen Xuan frowned.

"Have you forgotten? I intend to give you a gift."

His tone was completely different than before, and his wording changed from "my master" to "I."

Chen Xuan wasn’t particularly surprised.

He already sensed that the moment Will Naki sacrificed himself, he had, in fact, died. His soul didn’t dissipate, and perhaps still exists within the Celestial Patrol, but it’s no longer possible for him to become human again.

From the beginning, Will has been the will of the Celestial Patrol.

"What kind of gift?"

"You can stay and become my honorary symbiote."

"Become like him?" Chen Xuan asked warily. "Worship the nano-living body as a god, only to end up as a puppet driven by you?"

"Mr. Chen, you’re mistaken. I am Will, but I’m also the Celestial Patrol; I’m both every symbiote and the external entity itself. It’s normal that you can’t comprehend this state; it’s necessary for ascension... Fragile souls and bodies cannot meet the demands of reaching the other side."

Will’s body grew increasingly bright, with countless tiny cracks appearing on his skin. Eventually, he disintegrated into millions of pieces, each connected to a "tentacle" behind it.

When those tentacles, resembling electrical wires, withdrew the fragments to the ground, Chen Xuan became the sole person standing on the platform.

But the voice remained, only sounding more dignified and profound, "We are a whole, only a whole can combat the storm. Normally, I only accept souls filled with faith, someone like you would have no chance. But considering your contributions, I can make an exception."

Chen Xuan’s brow involuntarily twitched.

This gift is indeed luxurious.

So luxurious that he almost couldn’t suppress a mocking smile.

But remembering that the other party had just blown up the Moon, he ultimately restrained himself.

"Thanks, but no need."

However, the Celestial Patrol’s reaction was somewhat unexpected to Chen Xuan.

"I thought so, this answer is not surprising."

"You thought I’d refuse?"

"I guess most humans would. It’s also your subconscious reaction when facing the unknown," the voice wasn’t annoyed at all, rather very peaceful, "Refusing the unknown, it’s reducing risks, but also reducing opportunities."

Chen Xuan’s view of it couldn’t help but change a little, "Well, it’s not like there’s only one chance for a human life, especially since you haven’t introduced the benefits of becoming a symbiote... A choice knowing the cost is an opportunity; not knowing is a gamble."

After all, he’s not the Dimensional Limit Mechanism, there’s no need to stubbornly pursue ascension.

People can live well without ascending, can’t they?

The Celestial Patrol didn’t refute, "Because you didn’t ask."

Chen Xuan felt a stir in his heart, quickly saying, "Then I’m asking now—after you ascend, what will happen to the Earth? What about the survivors on Earth?"

Having the "external entity" that claims to have completed ascension answer ascension-related questions might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"There is no Earth, it’s already part of me. I will carry the remaining people to the other side; they will either become my symbiotes or turn to dust. Of course... Symbiotes are hierarchical; as an honorary symbiote, you qualify to share our perception and thoughts, almost no different from immortality."

So that’s how it is...

Faced with the other’s unrestrained answers, Chen Xuan’s heart couldn’t help but sink a bit. Lin Qing’s wish still hasn’t come true, and this future outcome isn’t much different from destruction.

As for why the nano-living body wants to take humans along, that’s not hard to guess—ascenders are not gods, and humans are not that insignificant. Whether it’s the "fuel" Will mentioned or the "currency" collected by the Star God, they all indicate that humans are a resource.

"Where is the other side?"

"A domain incomprehensible to mortals, I can only describe it to you in metaphor: like a fish climbing onto land, like a frog jumping out of a well; the universe is still that universe, and no new world exists, but distances that were once unreachable become close at hand, dreams that were once unattainable all become reality."

Chen Xuan roughly understood.

If when talking with the Dimensional Limit Mechanism, Jiang Yiheng’s words more often referred to passive existential crises, the Celestial Patrol’s description is undoubtedly more proactive. Human understanding of the universe is limited by the propagation of light and their own perception. To ascenders, it’s probably like fry in a pond.

It sure sounds fascinating.

"What if someone tries to change history?"

"Once ascended, events related to it become final, no one can alter them."

Impossible to change? How is that achieved?

"Including different worldlines?"

"The rules you know are meaningless to ascenders," it said calmly.

"What is the Star God then? It claims to be change, while you are the external entity, what about the ego?" Chen Xuan asked urgently.

This time, the other party didn’t respond immediately, pausing before saying, "Just names on the path."

"Can you say more in detail?"

The Celestial Patrol chuckled lightly with Will’s voice. "The answer is apparent."

Chen Xuan was unwilling to give up, "Then are there other paths?"

"Certainly... There are many ways to ascend, only the victors stand out." The Celestial Patrol paused, "Time’s almost up, you should make a choice. Since you’ve encountered the Star God, you should understand how precious the gift I’m offering is."

The difference between being a guest and a dog...

Honestly, the other party’s attitude is quite courteous, even quite human—considering that the nano-living body isn’t a species with humans, their thoughts and languages are all different, only a giant living entity like the Celestial Patrol could communicate through the followers’ will.

However, Chen Xuan still shook his head and said, "I don’t want to ascend alone without my companions."

"In that case, it’s time to say goodbye."

In the distance, the metallic ground began emitting an even brighter light, gradually illuminating the entire night sky.

A pitch-black ring suddenly appeared overhead, where the center of Spiritual Qi convergence was—Chen Xuan couldn’t discern its size or distance, it seemed both floating in space and only three feet away, reachable by stretching out a hand. He realized that his previous cognitive experience can’t be applied to this ring, just like humans can never perceive high-dimensional worlds.

"Oh, since you don’t want to stay, I’ll choose another gift for you."

The Celestial Patrol’s voice seemed to come from far away, when Chen Xuan heard it, he already felt a faint prickling pain behind him.

Let alone the Divine Eye Technique, even the Celestial Radiance True Skill couldn’t give any warning.

He turned around abruptly, seeing a small tentacle retracting into the ground with a shake.

"With this gift, even if you die, the Star God’s mark won’t be able to take your soul. It’s nothing compared to being an honorary symbiote, consider it an impromptu farewell gift."

As the Celestial Patrol’s voice fell, the entire star suddenly transformed into a white light, cast into the unfathomable black ring.

Chen Xuan was also surrounded by the dazzling light, involuntarily closing his eyes.

When he slowly moved his arm away from his eyes, he found himself back at the first peak.